St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-31

complained that he was compelled often
to turn his numbering vehicle and
four horses completely out of
President Quincy's path, at the risk
of upsetting. On one occasion ex-Presl-
dent John Quincy Adams paid visit to
the college, and accompanied by Mr.
Quincy went into the law school where
the eminent Joseph Story, one of the
Supreme Court judges, was lecturing to
the class. Taking seats upon the plat,
form, both the old gentlemen soon
went to sleep. Judge Story, who
was noted for his charming and genial
manners, perceived their ludicrous situa-
ton. He himself was never very early
riser, while both Mr.. Quincy and Mr..
Adams rose with the larks. Gentle
men, said Judge Story to his class,
waving his hand toward the slumberers,
you see before you a melancholy in
stance of the i'll effects of early rising"
The shout of laughter which broke from
the entire class woke both the sIespers
very suddenly and they were much
amused themselves on learning the occa-
sion for this merriment.
Mr.. Quincy's unpopularity continued
for long time during his presidency,
and several rebelliOns occurred, which he
met with his accustomed vigor. While
one of these emeutes was in progress, he
appeared on the college green just as the
insubordinates had hung out a black flag,
and were dancing around an old elm,
known as the "rebellion tree" Some of
the tutors were haranguing the rioters,
and urging them to desist and return to
duty. Mr.. Quincy took more energetic
view of the case, and thinking that some
people require to be knocked down first
and talked to afterward he expelled the
whole sophomore class on the spot
They were very soon brought to a
sense of their folly, and in a dav
or two all with one or two exceptions
We're reinstated. III feeling gradually
subsided, and as the nobility of Mr.
Quincy's real nature became known he
became endeared to the students, and
was very popular for some years before
his retirement from the university
When at length in 1S45 he resigned, the
classes without exception combined, and
commissioned the celebrated sculptor,
Thomas Crawford to execute a marble
bust Of him, as a memorial gift to the
university. This was done and the bust,
a noble work Of art, remains in the great
hall of the college library
After Mr.. Quincy's retirement he re.
sided in Boston, occupied to the last with
business affairs and literary work. He
proved his sagacity and unselfishness at
advanced age in memorable way When
the city was extended over the back
bay and great additions of land were
thus made to Boston, Mr.. Quincy urged
the city authorities to buy large section
Of property, feeling sure that it would
greatly enhance in value The city Off
cials declined to do so, after Nh Quincy
had more than once called their atten-
tion to the matter. Mr.. Quincy then said
that rather than have the property sacr-
feed he would buy it himself. He ac-
cordingly did so, and in two or three
years it rose so enormously in value that
he made nearly half million dollars on
/ his purchase, when he was more than
ninety years of age; everyone being de-
lighted that he had been thus signallv
fortunate after such wise foresight and
unseltish conduct
Mr.. Quincy died in 1864, aged ninety
two years. His foibles and peculiari-
ties are now forgotten and forgiven.
while his eminent success and the gran
deur of his character will ever perpetuate'
his memory as one of the most dis
tinguished of the sons of New England.
OsMoND TIFFANY.